Chapter 56

The attending physician said helplessly, "Zheng Jiaoshou had his secretary call the relevant high-level officials, and the leaders on the phone directly asked us to respect Zheng Jiaoshou's wishes."

Ning Jinli didn't expect things to turn around; without a word, she rushed into the ward.

The dean also hurriedly followed inside.

Everyone felt anxious and complicated, guarding by the bedside to observe the situation.

Only Ning Jinli believed that even the divine doctor's heart-protecting pill would definitely work.

Zheng Jiaoshou fell into a coma again, and the ECG values shown on the monitor were very low.

Time passed second by second, and the ECG line became increasingly flat.

The dean silently sighed and shook his head.

Sure enough, it still didn't work…

"Dean, should we... continue resuscitative treatment for Professor Zheng?" the attending physician asked.

Saying that, he gritted his teeth and glanced at Ning Jinli, his tone angry: "After finally stabilizing the situation a bit, you've messed it up like this!"

Beep—

The ECG issued an alert.

On the monitor, the ECG turned directly into a flat line!

"Quick! Quickly resuscitate!" the dean shouted.

Ning Jinli was dazed.

How could this happen?!

The medical staff, annoyed, pushed Ning Jinli aside, divided tasks and cooperated to prepare another resuscitation effort.

Secretary Li gently shielded Ning Jinli and pulled her aside: "Miss Ning, don't blame yourself; Professor Zheng said he knows his own condition, and he's just trying a dead horse as a living horse remedy—if he passes like this, he certainly won't blame you, nor will he let you bear responsibility."

Just then, the ECG on the monitor suddenly showed a fluctuation.

The medical staff looked utterly incredulous; they hadn't even touched him yet, how...

Immediately after, Zheng Jiaoshou slowly opened his eyes, and his heartbeat grew stronger.

"Sorry... I just dozed off, did I scare you?" Zheng Lao smiled faintly; his voice was still weak but clearly had more vigor than before.

"Quick! Continue examination and treatment!" the dean ordered with a wave of his hand.

Ning Jinli covered her chest and let out a long breath.

This series of twists truly made her feelings like riding a roller coaster.

Secretary Li's mood was similarly a mix of anxiety and anticipation, his palms unconsciously sweating; he feared this was just a temporary rally before death for the professor.

Soon, after careful examination by the medical team, they found that Zheng Jiaoshou's heart function was steadily recovering.

He was out of mortal danger!

After repeatedly confirming this, all medical staff present looked at Ning Jinli with changed eyes.

They felt shock, joy, and also some apology.

From the situation just now, it was clearly her pill that took effect.

The dean immediately invited Ning Jinli to his office, took out his treasured fine tea, personally brewed it to entertain her: "Miss Ning, please have a seat."

Ning Jinli glanced at the large leather chair behind the desk and teased: "What did you say earlier? If the pill really works, then——"

The dean's face flushed with embarrassment, accompanying a smile: "Miss Ning, if you want to sit in my chair, you can."

Ning Jinli certainly wouldn't take offense at that remark.

After all, the dean was just trying to persuade her and said that offhand.

Moreover, Xinghan Central Hospital is a top-tier national public hospital; even if the dean had a lapse and genuinely wanted to let her be director, the state would never agree.

Ning Jinli sat on the sofa for receiving guests in the dean's office and asked: "Do you want to learn about the pill from me?"

"Yes," the dean nodded with a smile, "Miss Ning, you've given me a slap in the face, but it's worth it! I wonder if you could help introduce the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica inheritor you mentioned?"

Ning Jinli shook her head: "Sorry, I can't arrange that."

The dean sat beside her, earnestly: "As it seems, that inheritor's pill has remarkable efficacy against Professor Zheng's special heart condition. Although medicine is advanced now, there are still many bizarre heart diseases that leave the medical field helpless; if Miss Ning is willing to help, this would be a great contribution to our country and even to all humanity."

Ning Jinli felt helpless: "It's not that I refuse to introduce him; I really can't."

That divine doctor lived in the southwestern border of Xuan Guo over two thousand years ago, and the spacetime portal only allows her to come and go with Xiao Qidi.

She is willing but unable.

The dean thought perhaps the inheritor didn't want to show up, and after thinking said: "If it's really inconvenient for them to appear, could Miss Ning act as an intermediary to cooperate?"

"What kind of cooperation?" Ning Jinli became interested.

The dean said: "As I know, many prescriptions in the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica specially treat difficult and miscellaneous diseases; partly because the formulas are unique, partly because many medicinal herbs are now basically extinct, so that inheritor must have cultivated ancient herbs by some means; otherwise, even with a formula he couldn't make medicine..."

Hearing this, Ning Jinli asked: "Do you want him to provide medicinal herb seedlings?"

The dean laughed and shook his head: "Never mind whether they'd be willing to hand over such precious stuff; even if they did, we couldn't keep it alive."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because the environment is no longer suitable."

The dean continued: "In the past, a Chinese medicine expert spent most of his life traveling nationwide, finding small amounts of the herbs rumored to be recorded in the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica."

Because they were extremely rare, the state dispatched top plant research teams to attempt cultivation, all ending in failure.

Even the places where those rare herbs once grew sparsely, due to environmental changes, are no longer suitable for their propagation.

Having said that, the dean showed a wry, helpless smile: "Many think Chinese medicine is too backward for modern society, but they don't realize that the current situation stems from two main points: first, too many formulas have been lost; second, many medicinal materials needed are now nowhere to be found."

Ning Jinli held her teacup, her mind racing: "Dean, do you mean you want the inheritor to provide the cultivated herbs?"

"I would like that," the dean admitted frankly, "but herbs and formulas are indispensable, and both are surely that person's treasures; I can't just go seize them."

"I plan this way: if possible, according to pharmaceutical market demand, let that inheritor produce as much medicine as possible, making him our hospital's medicine supplier."

"The related procedures need not trouble him; we can handle them ourselves."

Including all the capital needed for production and assistance in every aspect, we can handle everything; opening a pharmaceutical factory is no problem.

Of course, Miss Ning has to help negotiate this.

The director spoke earnestly and showed full sincerity.

Ning Jinli felt increasingly that it was feasible as she listened.

Yaowang Gu also needs a great deal of modern supplies and technological support, a mutual exchange of strengths and weaknesses, and the people there will certainly be willing.

But given the reality that a factory cannot be built in Yaowang Gu, this matter can only be handled by her.

That is, she will establish a pharmaceutical company, import raw materials from Yaowang Gu, produce them on a large scale according to the formulas in the Shennong Classic of Materia Medica, and then supply the finished medicines to Xinghan Central Hospital.

So she told the director about this idea.

The director agreed on the spot; no matter how she does it, the hospital only needs to be able to purchase the required medicines from her.

The two instantly reached an agreement and signed a cooperation contract on the spot.

In the afternoon, Ning Jinli returned to the factory and immediately went to Yaowang Gu through the Spacetime Portal.

She also discussed the cooperation with Lian Qingbai.

As she expected, when Lian Qingbai learned that she would need Yaowang Gu to supply herbs, he readily agreed and even apologized for the short‑term inability to provide them due to recent damage to Yaowang Gu.

"It's fine," Ning Jinli said with a smile, "no need to rush; after all, my preparations also take time."

Lian Qingbai exhaled in relief, "That's good; I was really worried I might have delayed the Fairy's matter."

Ning Jinli added, "In the future, whatever you need here, I will do my best to provide, just as I did with supplies to Lin Xian Village before; I'm already very proficient at it."

Lian Qingbai was overjoyed and kept bowing in thanks.

"Trouble! Fairy, Divine Doctor Lian!" a Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army soldier hurriedly reported, "His Majesty insists on returning to Xi Tun Guan!"

Upon hearing the news, the two rushed to see Xiao Qidi.

Inside the camp tent, Xiao Qidi ignored several commanders' earnest pleas and insisted on putting on his clothes to leave.

Lian Qingbai strode in, knelt, and said, "His Majesty! Your injuries have not healed; you need to convalesce!"

Xiao Qidi's cheeks tightened, "The crisis at Xi Tun Guan is not yet resolved; I must return to take command. Without seeing the Yu Guo enemy forces destroyed with my own eyes, I have no mind to convalesce."

"You all, station three thousand Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army troops here to prevent any more Sha Yue people from coming, and assist the Lian clan in swiftly rebuilding Yaowang Gu!"

After issuing the order, he gritted his teeth, put on his clothes, and walked away.

The commanders and Lian Qingbai turned pale with anxiety, but it was the king's command, and they had to obey.

Moreover, even if Xiao Qidi's injuries improve, with his skill, even if they were to risk their lives and defy the order, they still couldn't stop him…

"Stop right there!" a crisp voice rang out at the camp tent entrance.

Ning Jinli's tall, slender figure stepped directly in front of Xiao Qidi.

Xiao Qidi's gaze was gloomy, "You also want to stop me?"

Ning Jinli lifted her head, meeting his imposing stare, "I haven't settled the score for your earlier unannounced departure! Considering your injury, I won't argue now; if you want to return to Xi Tun Guan, you should heal your wounds first!"

The commanders and Lian Qingbai listened to their exchange, their hearts trembling with fear.

Fortunately, the Jinli Fairy is here.

Only she can confront His Majesty so head‑on.

Xiao Qidi's eyes grew even darker, "Returning to Xi Tun Guan will let the army doctors there continue treatment; my decision needs no your interference."

Ning Jinli couldn't figure out the inexplicable hostility in his tone.

Anyway, she's more or less gotten used to it; he's the type with a capricious, unfathomable temperament.

"Fine, fine, fine, I won't interfere!" Ning Jinli placed her hands on her hips, lifted her chin, "You plan to ride back on your own? I heard this place is over a hundred li of mountainous terrain from Xi Tun Guan; do you still find the burns on your back not painful enough?"

Xiao Qidi wore a cold, arrogant expression, "Hmph, trivial injuries; I can endure them."

"I know you're ruthless, but you don't have to suffer needlessly!" Ning Jinli said irritably, "I have a simpler way to get you back faster; want to hear it?"

Xiao Qidi's eyes flickered, "I've heard you came through a cave behind Yaowang Gu; could it be that your side can connect both here and Lin Xian Village at the same time?"

Ning Jinli felt her heart thump.

She didn't know either; she hadn't had time to investigate.

But her real aim wasn't to send this stubborn one to Xi Tun Guan; she wanted to take him to the hospital for treatment with high‑tech medical equipment.

After all, treating burns isn't Lian Qingbai's specialty.

"Um… just tell me if this works," Ning Jinli said vaguely.

"This way I can return before the barbarian army arrives," Xiao Qidi nodded, "Fine, take me away!"

Ning Jinli's eyes curved into crescent moons, a sly smile hidden, "Ah, that's right, let's go, let's go!"

She coaxed and faked enthusiasm to get Xiao Qidi to follow her into the cave.

When Xiao Qidi saw a fluorescent vortex on the cave wall identical to that in Lin Xian Village's Immortal Cave, he said nothing and stepped inside.

Before Ning Jinli could follow, he suddenly returned.

"Why are you still here?" he asked, frowning.

Ning Jinli said, "Why are you in such a hurry? I haven't even gone over yet…"

He decisively turned around and went over again.

Ning Jinli immediately also passed through the Spacetime Portal back to the small storage room.

"Well, moving the other end of the portal to Lin Xian Village will require some time," Ning Jinli kept stalling him.

Xiao Qidi narrowed his eyes, "How long?"

"Um…" Ning Jinli said seriously, "It won't take long; just wait a moment. Since we have time, I might as well take you to the hospital for further treatment of the burns."

A shadow of doubt crossed Xiao Qidi's brows, "Miss Ning, are you deceiving me?"

Ning Jinli bluntly put on an air of righteousness, "Believe it or not, it's up to you."

Xiao Qidi glanced at the back door of the warehouse, his cold cheek tightening further, and said word by word, "I will, for now, trust you."

"Ah, how strange," Ning Jinli said, puzzled, "Why, in your eyes, am I a person not worth trusting?"

Xiao Qidi pressed his thin lips together, his gaze dark and complicated, yet said nothing.

"Fine, let's not waste time, come with me to the hospital," Ning Jinli yanked his arm and left.

The two arrived at the city‑center hospital.

After a doctor's examination, it was said his burn was healing well, but he must avoid anything rubbing the area, change dressings frequently, keep clean, and it would be best to stay hospitalized for a while.

Seeing Xiao Qidi about to get up and leave.

Ning Jinli hurriedly asked the doctor, "Excuse me, is there any other method that can protect his back and those areas from being rubbed while minimally affecting his movement?"

The doctor said, "Our burn department has a technique that can create a protective shield over large areas of injured skin, covering the wound, but it's expensive because the material requirements are high, and afterward you'll need to disinfect it daily yourself, which is cumbersome; I still recommend hospitalization."

"Price is fine, how long does making the shield take?"

"In his case, both his back and waist‑hip area need it; we must first take measurements, then use 3D printing, the fastest is about half a day."

"Half a day… that works."

Ning Jinli leaned close to Xiao Qidi's ear and whispered soothingly, "Only half a day, and that's still less time than you running from Yaowang Gu to Xi Tun Guan, right?"

Xiao Qidi turned his head and stared straight into her eyes, "If you aren't lying to me, then yes."

Ning Jinli felt a tingling on her scalp, but now she could only take one step at a time.

"Listen up," she forced herself to stay calm, speaking in a commanding tone, "Stay here obediently, cooperate with the doctor, do whatever people tell you to do, don't say what you shouldn't, don't ask what you shouldn't, otherwise the delay is your own time."

"I'm going back right now to shift the Spacetime Portal toward Lin Xian Village; once you're done here, the doctor will notify me to pick you up."

"Did you understand, little brother?"

Xiao Qidi shifted his gaze away from her eyes and calmly uttered two words, "Understood."

Ning Jinli handed him over to the doctor and rushed back to the factory at full speed.

She wanted to try, to see if there was any method that could make the other side of the Spacetime Portal reconnect to Lin Xian Cave.

As a result, when she peeked at the back door of the small warehouse, she was stunned…